Whats your biggest pet peeve working in the ED?

Specialties Emergency

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Id have to say my biggest pet peeve is when someone hands you a medicaid card as they pull it from their Louis Vuitton handbag with bling on their hands after having rolled up to the ER in their Mercedes Benz! After that I'd say when someone comes to the ER for a UPT. Dont they know they are available at the dollar store now adays?

Specializes in psych/dementia.

I'm not a nurse yet but please don't jump on me. I DO work in the ER in registration and can relate to almost everything in this thread.

Patients with attitudes. Some patients are just rude and mean, cussing out EVERYONE, doctor included. You came here for help, why the attitude?

DEFINITELY the wait issue. We told you it was going to be a 4+ hour wait and it hasn't been an hour yet. You can leave if you want but the other hospitals are probably just as busy and you will go to the bottom of their waiting times.

People who exaggerate being sick in order to get to the back sooner. Screaming about how you can't breathe when your sats are 100% is not getting you to the back any sooner.

I was sent to work in the ER at my old hospital when they were severely short. I was in triage and had a woman come in saying she thought she was pregnant and needed to find out. I looked at her and no words came out of my mouth. I took a deep breath and I repeated what she said and my first comment was do you know how to use a home pregnancy test? She said she didn't have money for that. But yet she had a Gucci purse and shoes and a real expensive looking coat. I was floored. This was my very first ER experience as a nurse and I can't believe some of the nonsense that comes to the ER.

Reminds me of L&D when a new parent went on about not being able to afford formula - as s/he talked on a new iPhone and toyed around with an iPad. Priorities.....

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
People who exaggerate being sick in order to get to the back sooner. Screaming about how you can't breathe when your sats are 100% is not getting you to the back any sooner.

I run in to pts. that know that "chest pain" are the magic words that get you immediately transported to a tx area. So they come in the N/V/abd pain. They see how many people are in the waiting room. They wait 30 minutes to get to triage. Then at the end of the triage they throw it that "oh, yeah, I have this feeling like an elephant is sitting on my chest."

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

When pts say "oh I dont have to pay for it". It takes every ounce of restraint not to say, "no I pay for your dumbass to come in for a nausea that you got after closing down the buffett".

Specializes in psych/dementia.
I run in to pts. that know that "chest pain" are the magic words that get you immediately transported to a tx area. So they come in the N/V/abd pain. They see how many people are in the waiting room. They wait 30 minutes to get to triage. Then at the end of the triage they throw it that "oh, yeah, I have this feeling like an elephant is sitting on my chest."

Yeah, we get that sometimes, though not as often as you'd think.

Narc seekers as well. Oh, you're allergic to all pain medication, EXCEPT narcs? Really? And then as soon as they find out they aren't getting any, leave.

Non-custodial parents who bring in their kids but don't know anything about them, whether their shots are up to date, their doctor, sometimes even the kid's address. Seriously??

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Narc seekers as well. Oh, you're allergic to all pain medication, EXCEPT narcs? Really? And then as soon as they find out they aren't getting any, leave.

Tell me about it. I do realize that there are some people who are allergic to things other than narcs. However, the people who can "just" have dilaudid is way out of proportion.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Currently? The shortage of Droperidol!! :roflmao:

Or the "newer" docs who ignore all of us who explain this particular person is NOT to be getting any narcs from us: per their PCP and the care conferences that were held about them. There is a plan in place, stick to it!

The patients who come in and before they get registered want to know which doc is on duty.

When I floated to our ED, we had a young girl come in with her mother for a upt. Well, right after that, we had a MI come in. We all were in the room with the patient, and as I was going back the mom was at the desk demanding we see her daughter. I told her it would be a bit as we have a patient in room 2 that needs to be seen right now. Then, the girl comes over to the room, pushes through the flight crew as they are walking up demanding she is seen and how she's waited forever on us, and how horrible we all are and cursing like crazy. Luckily the ED manager was there and he took care of it. She finally left but not without griping on her way out the door. I can't make this stuff up.

Specializes in psych/dementia.

The people who think the ED is a hotel. Can I have a blanket? A pillow? Some water? Food? All this in the WAITING ROOM, as well as in the back.

Seriously???

The patients who come in and before they get registered want to know which doc is on duty.

Hey now, Sometimes I was just told!!! I'm part of the family at the RAH

Specializes in MPH Student Fall/14, Emergency, Research.

My current peeve: "how long is this all going to take?" When nana's ABG shows she's severely hypoxic, or grampa's BSL is >30 (sorry that's Canadian, and crazy high), or little buddy is limp and breathing over 65/min.

I DON'T KNOW, ask your crystal ball! Be thankful he/she will live to eat another Christmas dinner! Aaahhhhh!

Okay, I feel better now.

Had a pt last night:

Pt: My head hurt, I have blurred vision and my chest hurt. It's been hurting for 2 days now

Me: Ok, we will put you on the cardiac monitor, start an IV and draw some blood for labs.

Pt: How long is this gonna take? I need to be gone by 0530 because I don't want to miss my spot at the shelter.

Me: So....which one is more important, your health or your spot to lay your head? And why did you not come 2 days ago?

Pt: Because I thought it would get better. So, if y'all are not done by 0530, I'm leaving AMA, ok?

Me: Ok, I'll have the AMA papers ready.

Pt did leave exactly at 0530 like he said, but the doc had him discharged in time because he told the doctor the same exact thing. I'm wondering why even bother?

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